LAST year the UK's Border Force blocked more than 18,000 attempts by migrants to enter Britain illegally, an increase of more than 60 per cent on the year before.

James Brokenshire, who attributes the success to Border Force's new 'law enforcement ethos'

Home Office minister James Brokenshire attributes this success to the Border Force's new "law enforcement ethos", the use of technology and the recruitment of more staff.

The Government should be commended for increasing the number of illegal migrants intercepted.

But how many still managed to sneak past this newly bolstered force? And how many managed to get past last year before these improvements were made?

It is clear that the battle is far from won and much more needs to be done. Our Government must clamp down on the black economy which provides work for illegal migrants and end our subservience to human rights legislation which helps many illegal migrants to stay in the country.

But we also need the help of the French. Their politicians are happy to blame soft–touch Britain for attracting migrants and beg us to give them money.

They complain of being plagued with trouble as a result of thousands of illegal migrants waiting at Calais to try to cross the Channel.

But they do not arrest and deport the migrants. They build camps with running water, beds and hot food.

Making the journey to Britain less enticing needs the will of our Government and the co–operation of the French.

Ruling by industry regulator Ofwat means household water bills are set to fall by five per cent over the next five years.

The lower price is being implemented to reflect the fact that water companies’ costs have fallen as a result of low interest rates – it is good to see such savings being passed on to customers for once.

The reduction may not be as generous as it first appears because of inflation but customers can still regard this as a good deal.

And with many people struggling with the burden of rising household utility bills coupled with low wage growth, forcing the companies to drop their prices is exactly what the regulator needed to do.